What is intraventricular hemorrhage?

Intraventricular hemorrhage is bleeding in the brain.

If the amount of bleeding is small, there should be little or no injury to the brain. But if there is more bleeding, too much fluid can build up in the brain. This is called hydrocephalus. The extra fluid increases the pressure in the baby's brain. This may injure the brain and lead to mental and physical problems.

There isn't a treatment to stop this type of bleeding. But your doctor will watch your baby closely for signs of extra fluid in the brain. Your doctor will also keep your baby's blood pressure steady and help your baby breathe.

If fluid buildup occurs, your baby may get a lumbar puncture or another procedure to drain the fluid and reduce pressure. During a lumbar puncture, a doctor removes some spinal fluid. If your baby gets a shunt, a doctor places a flexible tube in the brain. This tube helps to drain the fluid.

• Your baby will be cared for in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Most babies stay in the hospital for at least 4 weeks.
• The doctor will use several ultrasound tests to closely watch for signs that bleeding is getting worse. These tests can also check for fluid buildup in your baby's brain.

• There is no treatment to stop this type of bleeding in the brain.
• Instead, the focus of treatment will be to keep the blood pressure steady, give fluids, and help your baby breathe.
• If hydrocephalus develops, your baby may have a lumbar puncture or have a procedure to drain the fluid. A flexible tube called a shunt may be placed in the brain to drain the fluid. Draining fluid helps control the pressure in the brain.
• Your baby may have more tests to check for swelling and fluid buildup.

• If your doctor prescribed medicines for your baby, give them as directed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with his or her medicine.
• If your baby gets home oxygen, follow instructions for how to use it.
• Wash your hands before you hold your baby.
• Do not smoke or expose your baby to smoke. Smoking increases the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma, colds, and pneumonia. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.

Some premature babies have bleeding in the brain the first week after birth. This bleeding is called intraventricular hemorrhage.

Your doctor may describe the amount of bleeding as grades 1 through 4. Grade 1 or 2 means the amount of bleeding in the brain is small. Less bleeding means there is a much lower chance of brain damage.

More bleeding (grades 3 and 4) raises the risk that fluid will build up in the brain. This is called hydrocephalus. The extra fluid can increase pressure in the baby's brain. This may cause brain damage. It can also cause mental and physical problems.